Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.

Chapter 34

Dragon's Kelp, Appalachian Mountains
31st January, 1960

Ursa Kolel-Buck sighed as she patiently waited for Matre Sol at the entrance of the latter's office. The news had spread like wildfires. It had taken every Kelp Member by surprise. Every other Kelp resident was born to tend to or ride dragons, other than contributing to maintaining the Herb gardens at The Gallows at the foot of the mountains. And to put a stop to it was more like ripping off one's soul into two halves. She was not a Kelper from the start, she was a Kolbi, who came by the sea to marry the man who loved dragons much like her, Brom Kolel-Buck. He was Darun Kolel-Buck and Nara Kolbuck, the former kelp Matre's baby brother. The last surviving Kolel-Buck Male. He had little or no love for rule abiding administrative jobs. He was a flyer, a dragon rider and a seafarer.

Ursa was born in the forgotten village in the heart of Isroza- the only remaining settlement of dragon herders, sandwiched between two mountains hidden behind thick pine and fir forests marking the border of Norway and Sweden. Brom Kolel- Buck was the newcomer in her secluded life. Though they started off as enemies, their personal dragons had other ideas. The only Short Snout whelp of the Dragon's Kelp had recognized Brom as his human companion. But none could help him in learning more about his beast. Under the circumstances, Solveig had reached out to the head of the Kolbi clan, Melvin, with a rare request. Shortly after, the young cousin had embarked on his journey to the other side of the world, with a magical creature hidden in his travelling case.

The Spiese who originated from Romania had received the young Kolel-buck at the shores of North Africa and had helped him travel through Europe and finally cross over the British waters without getting detected. The Boeie had received him just outside the redwood forests, from where they had to apparate a multiple times, to finally reach the frozen magical world up north. From a distance, the young man had looked at the black castle of Durmstrang and had felt the presence of darkness. It was a cumbersome journey, yet his spirits were lifted at the sight of Melvin Kolbi's daughter, Ursa waiting at the edge of the borders to receive the lone traveller. To this day, the man continues to believe it was the happiest year in his life.

The boisterous, stubborn and passionate man had managed to make young and spirited Ursa fall for him as they patrolled the mountains together perched on their mates Swedish short snouts, making sure the outside world and other magical communities stayed ignorant of their existence.

That is how they both had come across young Rohirrim Cel Cazut stumbling along the side of the mountain, half starved, exhausted and frightened. Later on, after her father had dropped the boy off beyond the boundaries of their magical village, he had told her," I hope you will get to meet him again," much to her dismay.

Brom had his reservations for the quiet man, but Ursa had recognised him the very first day he had come to meet the Kelp Matre at South Tooth. He was taller, leaner and paler than before. His face, that sharp chin, hollow cheeks, thin lips and pointed nose were well camouflaged behind that ruddy beard. Even then those jaded black eyes didn't fool her. He made her uncomfortable, and he was aware of that fact.

Looking away he had greeted her by the only term he had learned from the Kolbis. "Hedrad syster".

"I was asked to expect you on these shores in my lifetime," she replied.

Bowing his head, he just nodded.

"The Gallowers call you the Walking Ghost, now I see why," she said in a matter of fact tone, trying to judge whether he would stick around or leave. His demeanor of a vagabond made her question his intentions.

Cel Cazut stole a glance at her and murmured," Last time I told you Hedrad syster, all I have is my old man Lohan. But now I am truly alone."

"You know I still don't trust you enough. I don't understand how come you are able to see and walk around places you are not supposed to know of...but look at you. I would like to make myself clear about one thing, Cel Cazut, this might not be Hjertet Av isrosa, but this my home, and I will warn you this one time, if you are here to do Dark Magic, the next time we meet, I will make sure my sword finds your throat," she murmured.

He looked at his feet and nodded.

She narrowed her eyes and said, "I don't wish to get dragged into anything, Matre Sol must have already guessed you drabble in Dark magic. After all, that good for nothing school taught just that. But my father thought better off you, I will honour that."

Turning at her, he pleaded much like that boy those many years ago," Hedrad Syster, I came to honour your father's request. I came here because the folks of Spiese and Boeie all pointed in this direction. That day, I proved to your tribesmen I meant no harm. I give you my word, I still don't mean to harm anyone."

"Do you still speak to the trees and the birds?"

"I hear them talk to me."

"And what about the Dead?

The man had blanched at that.

"I see. Like I said, I won't tell these people. I will watch, I will wait for them to find out about you on their own. We can be kind because we are born with dragon hearts, but if wronged, we are merlicess. I will keep my eyes trained on you just in case. Are you still good with your knives?"

Cel Cazur felt for them at his hip and nodded.

"Keep them close all the time." She had turned and walked away, leaving the man under the arch of the corridor that led to Matre Sol's Tower.

Suffice to say, Celina Kolel-Buck's mother had taken her time to study the man clad in black. She had watched him from the shadows and had listened to her husband's misgivings about the new Gallower patiently," He is like the Dead. Cold yet alive. I told Matre we can't trust him, but she is allowing him to set up a shop now, she is allowing him to roam around the mountain, pick his way in the Herb Garden and fly on a broom!"

Brom had left Isrosa with a promise to marry her, and Ursa had waited for a word from the Kelpers for nearly a year. To keep her mind off, she had watched the Black castle of Durmstrang from far. There were several occasions where she had seen young Cel Cazut accompanied by a young girl walking around the frozen courtyards. There were times when they were joined by a smaller boy. Even from above the clouds, perched on her snow white dragon, she could see the two loved each other. She had heard the general gossip. The women at both the Kelp and the Gallows speculated about the young man's loveless life. But she never told them, if one once had the honour to love Anatasia Krum, he could never bring him to love another.

Brom Kolel-Buck had grudgingly accepted the man as a part of the Kelp, after he had saved Celina from certain death. But he was still wary of him. While her husband was down checking on the shaken healer, here she was wondering about Cazut. Her dragon Sarsa had alerted her of the rare magical explosion that had shaken the Kelp an hour ago. The husband and wife were flying over the place giving their familiars a chance to spread their wings. The two fully grown Swedish Short Snouts had driven back to the catacombs in a state of panic.

The Madam Second Handler of the Tooth tried asking Milis but the House elf refused to give in. Mentally, she kept asking herself,"is it Cel Cazut? Is it because of him? Is Verus hurt?"

"Oh Ursa! Good thing I found you", Matre Solveig hurried to meet the younger woman standing outside her office and sighed deeply. Grabbing at her shoulder, she urgently requested," Gather everyone at the Hall as soon as possible and ask the Kitchens to prepare for the guests."

The other stammered," Gather...guests? Matre I don't quite...Brom was gone to find Verus and is Cazut hurt? Milis won't say much."

"Ursa, buckle up. I am asking the Gallowers to shift to the Kelp. You know the rumours...well, they need our help, they can hardly control their magic. Naireen and I, we will try our best to keep a check on that."

"But why would the dragons refuse to fly, our Short Snorts just made a hasty return and then refused to listen to our calls, refused to say a word on it. And these rumours, have you really asked the Handlers to…" she said as she followed the other woman inside her office.

"Yes, No more flying or training with the dragons until I say so. Ursa, you will get to know everything in due time. Now, please girl, go and gather all the Kelpers. I would like to talk to them before the Gallowers arrive. And please make sure the children are not loitering about. From now on the Catacombs are off-limits," Solveig said while drawing up a parchment and grabbing her quill.

"I heard Verus put Norbit to that task," Ursa stood rooted, still not believing herself.

"Good, ask your house-elf, Rouhm to keep his eyes trained on them as well," Matre Sol muttered, as she started writing down a short letter to Raymond Rossier.

"Matre?"

Without looking up, the other hummed," Yes, Ursa?"

"Is Cazut causing all this?"

Her quill hovered over the parchment as Solveig brought her head up and watched the woman standing in front of her grabbing onto the backrest of a visitor's chair.

"Ursa I know Brom has never warmed up to that unfortunate man. But I am aware that you don't judge him so harshly."

"I...I don't. But Cazut, Matre he knows Dark Magic."

"And? Has he used it to cause disruption in our lives?"

"These vibrations...Matre?"

"Cazut has nothing to do with them. Ursa, I have felt them long before anyone else had. Naireen has accepted Cazut, the magic of our forefathers has included him within hours of his arrival those many years ago. Why do you think that is the case?"

Ursa bowed her head and said apologetically," Because his intentions are pure."

Nodding curtly, Solveig said in a much softer voice," Ursa, I will be asking him to train Celina in the coming years. I need you to accept the man. Tell me girl, has he hurt anyone?"

"No, but…"

"Yes, he is not the most pleasant man. He is too quiet and too withdrawn. But he needs us as much as we will be needing him in the coming years. I want your support. I know you were the one to find him in the wild only miles away from your village in Hjertet av Isrosa," waving her hand Solveig asked the other to sit down.

Watching the woman finally settled, she continued," do you know what he told me after confessing about his role in Celina's miraculous escape from the mouth of Death?"

"I did thank him after I found out. But he shrugged it off."

"That is typical of him," Solveig smirked," he simply said, I will watch over her. She has got the fire in her to be a warrior, while Tulip truly carries a Healers' heart. A year back, I discovered him fervently working on designs of short knives. Folkyre said the man was quizzing him about smaller hilts. The Smiths said, he was down at their hearth, trying to gauge the weight of various weapons."

"He prefers knives. He is good at them. He is potioneer. He uses all types of cutting tools,' Ursa reasoned in a frenzy.

Shaking her head, Solveig corrected, "He found out Celina watches the Handlers train and tries to imitate them. He told me and we both saw her at work right outside the Owlery. She is gifted. Cazut pointed out, if the girl could have something lighter on weight and narrow enough for her to grip on, she would be swinging her arms with much ease just like a seasoned fighter."

Ursa gasped," He was trying to come up with an ideal weapon for our Celina."

"Yes, he dots on these children as if they are his own kin. He watches over those whelps as if they are his children. The dragons greet him like a dear friend. Ursa he is one of us," Solveig paused and studied the woman now, quietly crying to herself.

"He continues to call me Hedrad Syster. What is wrong with him? Is he ill?" she pressed on urgently, trying to find a way to redeem herself.

"He is going to be fine. Ursa, I know Brom might think otherwise, but Naireen wants to induct Cel Cazut as part of Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt. Now that cannot happen unless the man was a pure soul and untainted heart, can it? There are things he is capable of, and we will need him, if we have to find a way to fulfill the prophecy and stop magic from wearing off from these parts of the world." She twirled the quill and closed her eyes, trying hard to stop herself from telling the young woman about everything else Naireen had told her.

"Matre, I give you my word. You will face no objection from Brom. I will get the guest quarters ready and will inform the Kitchens right away. How soon can we expect the Gallowers to arrive?" Getting up, Ursa straightened her robes and asked.

"Sometime around noon, I think. Though they will take a couple of days to settle and shift up their belongings," she opined.

"I will oversee all of that. I will send an elf once the others have gathered, now if you will excuse me…" without a word the woman had left.

Once her owl had flown off, Solveig slouched back on her chair and eyed the closed drawer at her desk. Naireen had mentioned hearing someone calling for the Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt Guld. After all these years, she thought of Isobel Ross, her only childhood friend, and drew a set of runic patterns over the wooden surface of the locked compartment.

Pulling out a concealed section, she brought out a glass ball and a stack of letters tied together with a red and golden ribbon. Right under the pile was a small moving picture of a little girl giggling on her mother's lap. Under it the sender had written," This is my rose, Minerva McGonagall. Only recently I found out she is a witch. Robert knows, but there will come a day when she will need her Aunt Sol. I hope you are holding on to my parting gift."

Touching the chubby face of the small child, Solveig started at the glass ball. Propped up on a carved piece of stone, that nearly resembled the Teeth, the ball was almost as large as a man's closed fist. Inside it, was a replica of Naireen that breathed fire from time to time. Solveig never knew that the dragon in her dreams was true, neither did Isobel. But the ten years older girl had honoured her small friend's request and had made the showpiece from scratch.

Turning the ball upside down, Solveig studied the faded words, 'Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt Guld," and shook her head. Isobel knew who she was, she knew what would become of her, perhaps that is the reason why she kept on asking Little Solveig to never stop dreaming.

Placing the glass ball on the table, the Kelp Matre touched her Pheonix Feather and whispered, "I have never stopped dreaming about you either, Phoenix. I never gave up on us."

A:N/ Hadred Syster; Swedish for Honoury sister.